reefing

In reefing the mainsail is accessible, and the absence of the long boom of the cat-boat is readily appreciated.

They were divided into two watches, and their places for making and taking in sail, reefing and tacking, were assigned to them.

In the lull of the blast, the young commander overhauled the sail, and corrected the non-nautical reefing of his companion.

The wind steadily increased, and before long Charley saw the necessity of reefing.